Pluche Pool

During the Wereld van de Witte de With festival in 2006, Monique Horstmann presented her project Pluche Pool. This playful and surprising artwork consisted of a swimming pool filled with plush art objects — colorful, soft creatures existing somewhere between toy and sculpture. Despite their cuddly appearance, they were, as Horstmann herself noted, “not necessarily for kids.”

With Pluche Pool, she created a space where the public and art could meet in an accessible, almost playful way. Visitors were invited to dive among the plush figures, move them around, or simply sit and observe. The work played with sensory experience, childhood nostalgia, and the boundary between art and design.

Pluche Pool was presented as part of “September in Rotterdam” during the festival. Mothership acted as curator and project manager for the artwork.